http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neWUwYtMkqw

Joe Broughton's Conservatoire Folk Ensemble at The Trowbridge Village Pump 2009 - the end of an era for many, including myself as it was my last gig as a full-time band member. Solos are from Joe on fiddle, aaron Diaz on trumpet and myself on cajon.

Hello!

Things are rolling along nicely so I thought I'd post a little update.

Firstly, I've recently recorded with Chris While and Julie Matthews for their upcoming new album. For those who don't know, Chris and Julie are fantastic singer-songwriters, well respected on the UK folk scene and abroad and have been nominated for the BBc Radio 2 Folk Awards a record 10 times. The new album is a bold step forward for the duo - not least because, one brushed snare drum aside , there's no drum kit on it! I played my little cajon-based percussion kit, as well as a few other bits and pieces from my toy box (and theirs!) I was the first musician to join Chris and Julie and they've got some very exciting secrets up their sleeve for the rest of the album. check out http://www.whileandmatthews.co.uk/News.htm

In other news, I'm delighted that my Found Objects project is being supported by Birmingham Jazz and we're all set for some intensive rehearsal in the summer. I've had a bit of a jazz sabbatical of late and it's fantastic to have the support to develop a project that I'm desperate to sink my teeth into! The lineup is going to include Neil Yates on trumpet/whistles/electronics, Mike Fletcher on sax and flutey things, Frank moon on Oud, "Django" and other guitars and Percy Purseglove on bass. With that lineup of multi-instru-mentalists I think you can expect some great percussion ensemble stuff too!

The Old Dance School album is very near to completion and we're all absolutely delighted with the expert production of Joe Broughton and the new material which has really evolved over the last few months. We're opening The English Originals Festival in Birmingham next week with a free performance - Rush Hour Blues at the Symphony Hall bar on Friday 25th April. We're also opening Moseley (29-31 August) on the main stage on Friday afternoon and Headlining the Lunar stage on Sunday night, in between Scott Matthews and Seth Lakeman. Our wonderful friends KTB, Little Sister, The Destroyers and Jack McNeill and Charlie Heys are all there too, not to mention the incredible all-star lineup. If it's anything like last year, that weekend is going to be a blast and I think it can't fail but be better!!

The Bright Size Gypsies are as busy as ever and there'll be more on that soon.

Kate Doubleday's album is out - looking lovely, sounding quirky and Kate's over the moon to have a distribution deal with Proper. I play a variety of found objects including copper boiler lids.

I'm also working with a very, very exciting folk/world/groove/whatever quartet that I have to say is sounding great - a real virtuosic fun fest - keep your ears peeled!

The Folk Ensemble tour kicks off very soon and it's going to be the biggest, longest one yet! Check my main page for dates - we're playing somewhere near you very soon!

So that's me for now. Best to all, hope to see you sometime soon!

My good friend and accomplice John Sparrow has writen a cracking article on cajon for the drumset player in July's Modern Drummer. I'm particularly touched that he chose to mention me. He writes:

"You can also check out a great video performance that inspires me, by British artist Tom Chapman, at www.myspace.com/tcjazz. Tom is another drumset player who discovered the multiple possibilities of the cajon."

Nice. Think that's the first time anyone's really called me an artist!

In another news I'm chuffed to bits to have been awarded The Priciple's Award for Oustanding Contribution To Life at The Conservatoire 06/07.

Have a great summer!

TC

Just in case any of you haven't checked it out, www.pandora.com offers a personalised radio station service which is totally customisable - you enter artists you like and it plays their music and finds other music that you might not know that is similar to your prefered artists. Scary! I made a basic jazz station here http://www.pandora.com/?sc=sh147685753316606179

It's supposed to just be for US residents, which is a shame. Someone told me that if you look online it's quite easy to find US Zip Codes. But that would obviously be very naughty.

I'm playing with the Bright Size Gypsies - Mike Fletcher, Simon Harris, Barry Edwards, Colin Somerville etc. - at the Roots DeVille Festival, as listed above. Please check out their space at http://www.myspace.com/rootsdeville It's going to be a great festival!

There's a taster on Monday afternoon, around 12 in Chamberlain Square, near the big screen.

I've just expanded my top 8 to 24 - please check out these great musicians. There's a selection of Brum based people, some from further afield and some more established bands and musicians. Also up is the Bash Bar Jam Night - always putting on top notch gigs and jam sessions in the centre of Birmingham. 

A few of my mates from back home have been asking for some tunes from my 'electronica period' (ha!) and so I've dug out some golden oldies from 2003. Apologies for the dodgy sound on 'minus'. Also, more pressingly, a few people (Becky in particular) are getting fed up of hearing 'Strode Rhode' when they view my page. So please enjoy these samples from my teenage years whilst I finish up my latest jazz recordings.

take care

Tc

Hello All,

Just to say that if you check out my friends list (particularly the top 8) you'll see some of my 'real life' musical friends and associates who I consider well worth checking out. It's not all jazz either! So please pay Sugarbeats, Ernesto, Dan Priddy and my new favourite electro act Dialog a visit. Not to mention Partisans, who have to be one of the best established all-star experimental jazz acts this country has to offer.

Cheers

TC